Birth, Lineage and Family (Name, Alias, Address, Surname ):
Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib name alias Mirza Nowshah, Najam Al-Dawla, Dabir-ul-Mulk, Nizam Jang Khattabat. He was born on 27th December 1797 AD in Akbarabad Agra according to Rajab 1212 AH.
Regarding his date of birth, Nawab Allauddin himself states in a letter to Raees Loharo which is probably dated 1280 AH:
“The general rule is that the criminals of the world of water and earth punish in the world of spirits. But it has also happened that the sinners of the world of spirits are punished by sending them into the world sent”
Mirza’s real name is Asadullah Khan Baig. Father’s name is Mirza Abdullah Baig and mother’s name is Izzat ul Nisa Begum. The wife’s name is Amrao Begum. Mirza was famous as Nosha.
His rhetorical names include Najam al-Dawla, Dabir al-Mulk and Nizam-e-Jang. Bahadur Shah Zafar gave The title of the “ Nizam e Jang” to Ghalib , the last king of the Mughal Empire, on July 4, 1850 AD.
Ghalib initially wrote poetry in Urdu, then he wrote the pseudonym Asad and when he started reciting poetry in Persian, he started using the pseudonym Ghalib.
He never obeyed the ban. Researchers of Ghalib have stated that the reason for changing the surname is that some people who were unfamiliar with the taste of speech, started attributing Mir Amani Asad to the poems of an unknown poet. So Mirza took the dominant nickname from Asad.
Childhood and Education of Ghalib
Mirza Ghalib was only five years old when his father passed away and he was eight or nine years old when his beloved uncle also fell in love with Allah who had embraced his nephew as soon as his father died.
Mirza Ghalib’s early life must have been very aristocratic and luxurious and of course because of these luxuries his life was like that of the rich children of that time.
He played chess and backgammon, flew kites, spent carefree days with friends and acquaintances, and addicted to alcohol at the time, which did not last long.
Detailed details about Mirza Ghalib’s education are not yet known. Maulana Hali has written that he was related to Sheikh Moazzam who was one of the famous teachers of Agra at that time and some people have even described Nazir Akbarabadi as the teacher of Mirza Ghalib which is not authentic.
However, it is certain that the largest part of Mirza’s Persian education is that of a new-Muslim Iranian Parsi. His initial name was Hormuz and his Islamic name was Abdul Samad. He arrived in Agra in 1819 AD on a tour. He stayed with Mirza Ghalib for two years.
Practical Status
Mirza Ghalib’s own writings show that he had a thorough knowledge of the rules and history of Persian language and had passed through the devotional poetry and prose of teachers.
Memory because it was unusual. Every important part of the book memorized once he looks at it. It was a sign of speed of understanding that the most difficult problems can solve only by looking at them superficially.
Khawaja Altaf Hussain Hali writes that Nawab Mustafa Khan Shifta was once looking at a magazine of Shah Waliullah Muhaddith which contained precise issues of facts and teachings. One place I didn’t understand at all.
Coincidentally, he prevailed at that time. Nawab Sahib did not show that position and after some deliberation explained its meaning with such goodness and clarity that even Shah Waliullah could not explain it more.
Apart from Persian language, Ghalib knew Arabic very well. He was also very talented in astrology, mysticism, logic and philosophy. In addition, there is evidence of awareness of Mirza about medicine.
Marriage and children
Mirza Ghalib was married on 7 Rajab 1225 AH at the age of 13 to Amrau Begum, the youngest daughter of Nawab Elahi Bakhsh Khan.
Ghalib himself says in one of his letters that he sent me here on 8th Rajab 1212 AH for Robkari. He made the city a prison and put me in this prison. He made my work as poetry and prose. “
Mirza Ghalib had seven children but none remained for more than fifteen months. After his disappointment, Ghalib adopted his wife’s nephew Mirza Zainul Abidin Khan Arif as his son.
He Used to Love immensely but Arif also tarnished in his youth. Ghalib also wrote a painful lament on Arif’s death. In addition, he kept Arif’s two children with him and raised them.
Mirza Ghalib belonged to the Aibak Turkish nation. Mirza himself has also stated about himself that his lineage is similar to that of Turan Ibn Faridun.
Ghalib writes in one of his letters: “I am the Turk Seljuk of the nation. My grandfather came to India from the other side of the Maa ul Nahar during the reign of Shah Alam. The empire was weakened. His forefathers were soldiers and Ghalib always gave precedence to his hereditary soldiers over his poetry.
Books and Others
Books of Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib:
- Dewan e Ghalib ( Urdu )
- Dewan e Ghalib ( Persian )
- Kulyaat e Nazam (Persian)
- Sabad Cheen
- Mehar e Neem Roz
- Oud y Hindi ( Khatoot)
- Urdu e Mualla ( Khatoot)
Mirza Ghalib died on 15 February 1869 and was buried in Delhi.
